The pages of this 1925 travel journal present a rare gift: The chance to see what the open road was like 85 years ago. This is the third post in a series. The journal entries are presented here just as they were written, with no changes or corrections.
Irontone Springs was our next stop. (Will and Nellie had told us about them and said to be sure to drink from them. The water runs from springs into a tank near the roadside.) We drove through Vanderbilt, Sturgeon River, Welview, which connects Burks Lake and Mullet Lake.
Had short orders at an especially neat café, for which we paid $.30. In the village, we bought gas and oil. It was the noon hour and in the absence of the proprietor, an Indian and his son were taking care of the gas station. From the Indians we bought five gallons gas $1.10 and one quart of oil $.35.
We left the main road at Indian River, drove three miles east to Muskrat Landing where we camped that night and where the first fish were caught. Had a real fish supper. Next morning all went fishing on Indian River and I did the camp work. Right there is where I learned it was a useless piece of work to make the beds.
Fishermen came in about 11:30 with a good mess of fish and after dinner pulled up stakes and drove to Cheboygan where we camped in State park that night. The park was a cold bleak place and Lillie and I nearly froze regardless of the numerous blankets we had on our cot.
The ride to Cheboygan Sat. PM took us past Mullet Lake. Passed beaches called Topinabee, Log Point, Mullets Lake, Cheboygan and others. Had bread and milk for supper. A lady delivered milk to tourists at ten cents per quart. It being Saturday night, all drove uptown for supplies, except Lillie and I.
Left Park at 8 o’clock Sunday morning and at 10 to 9 we were on Auto Ferry dock at Mackinac, waiting to cross the strait. We were the 3rd car in line. Sure enjoyed seeing cars come up gangway and leave the city of St. Ignace; and it was equally interesting to watch the 15 cars on dock with us go down gangway.
Left the dock at 15 to 10 and reached St. Ignace one hour later, a distance of 9 or 11 miles. Left Saint Ignace at 1 o’clock stopped at Pickford for dinner ($.50) also bought 5 gal of gas ($1.25) and 1 qt. of oil, $.30. We camped at a Tourist Park at Sault Saint Marie.
The night before while campers were attending a wagon show, every tent on the ground was rummaged. Watches, suitcases, cameras and various articles were taken. Officers had rounded up three boys and the evening we were there the boys had their hearing. They were going to take them to court the following morning so do not know if they were proved guilty or not.
Click to view notes 5-7 (of 14), or view the entire set at our Flickr page. Be sure to click “All Sizes” for a closer view!
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